Association of breastfeeding and gestational diabetes mellitus with the prevalence of prediabetes and the metabolic syndrome in offspring of Hispanic mothers

Background: The effects of breastfeeding (BF) on metabolic syndrome (MetS) and diabetes mellitus in children exposed to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in utero have rarely been evaluated.

Objective: This study assessed BF and GDM in relation to the prevalence of prediabetes and MetS in Hispanic children and adolescents (8-19 y).

Methods: This is a longitudinal study with 229 Hispanic children (8-13 y) with overweight/obesity, family history of diabetes, and an average of four annual visits (AV). Participants were categorized as follows: never (negative for prediabetes/MetS at all AVs), ever (positive for prediabetes/MetS at any visit), intermittent (positive for prediabetes/MetS at 1-2 AVs), and persistent (positive for prediabetes/MetS at greater than or equal to 3 AVs).

Results: Compared with GDM offspring who were not BF (referent), GDM offspring who were BF had lower odds of persistent prediabetes (OR = 0.18; 95% CI, 0.04-0.82; P = 0.02) and MetS (OR = 0.10; 95% CI, 0.02-0.55; P = 0.008). Compared with referent group, non-GDM offspring who were BF, and non-GDM offspring not BF had lower odds of persistent prediabetes (OR = 0.10; 95% CI, 0.03-0.39; P = 0.001; OR = 0.05; 95% CI, 0.01-0.11; P < 0.001) and MetS (OR = 0.14; 95% CI, 0.04-0.59; P = 0.01 and OR = 0.04; 95% CI, 0.01-0.11; P < 0.001).

Conclusions: These results show BF is protective against prediabetes and MetS in offspring regardless of GDM status.